Details

Falcon 3.0 was published in 1991 by Spectrum Holobyte. It was the sequel to Falcon.

Falcon 3.0 pushed the boundaries of Air Combat Sims its release. It had all the features anyone could dream of at the time and the gameplay was riveting. It was also demanding on hardware, needing a 486 with a maths co-processor to run the "High-Fidelity Flight Model". I can still remember, when I finally got a 486, the weird lurching as the flight model switched from lo-fidelity to hi-fidelity at about 200 knots.

The ACMI recorder ( Air Combat Manouevering Instrumentation) could record your entire mission and then play it back from cockpit, external or 3D diagrammatic perspectives.
The mission designer.allowed you to create complex strike missions, tasking different aircraft types with Wild Weasel (SEAD - Supression of Enemy Air Defenses ), CAP ( Combat Air Patrol) in Interdiction/ Strike.

Even today it's a hoot and if you only have a 486 you really can't get much more excitement than what's available in the Falcon battleground. Luckily you can adjust the AI of the SAM operators, AAA and enemy pilots because on the higher settings they are murderous!

Falcon 3.0
Features

The dynamic campaign involved you in complex and long struggles which lasted for days, with the FEBA (Forward Edge of the Battle Area) moving back and forth as the fortunes of war waxed and waned.. This meant you could come under attack as you took off or returned to base and added to the sense of urgency.

It was probably the first sim to have a working Padlock view.

Your wingmen were very capable and you soon learnt to listen to their radio messages!

The inclusion of multiplayer network play saw the growth of "Virtual Squadrons" worldwide as players discovered that even the most capable computer opponent wasn't as scary as a human with a grudge!

Three disc sets.
Most , editions carried 4 High Density (1.44mb) black floppy disks and Low Density one black (720k) floppy disk. But due to a Quality Assurance cockup there was also a rare number which carried a BLUE 720k floppy.

When this was discovered efforts were made to maintain colour consistency.

Falcon 3.0 Packaging:

Richard Hawley reminisces about the classic era of packaging, when style and content reached their zenith...

The layout was done by the Van Winkle Design GroupThe simplistic look yet obvious attention to detail had european distributors importing US copies due to demand, despite the box clearly stating that it was "For distribution in North America and Australia only". Later Microprose would take over the publishing and distribution of Spectrum Holobyte products in europe and this classic silver box gave way to the usual Microprose printed slip-cover.

The original first edition box as printed in the United States had a silver F-16 with "Falcon 3.0" embossed into the carton. It doesn't show up to well on the scan here. Note the "3.0" is not coloured, it's left for the light to catch raised surface.

This box became something of a design classic in the computer game publishing world.

Item is all original including rare 720k extra blue disk. large IBM flight manual, maps, communication handbook and Holobyte order forms in original first edition retail box. Box shows moderate wear to edges.